President Donald Trump is set to host more than 100 hunters, anglers and outdoor industry leaders for a dinner at the White House on Thursday night, where he is expected to sign executive orders aimed at expanding hunting and fishing access and rolling back Biden-era restrictions.
Trump will address the group at a Rose Garden dinner as his administration pushes to open more public lands and waterways, cut regulatory barriers, and encourage hunting participation among younger Americans and veterans.
He is expected to sign two executive orders in the Oval Office on Thursday intended to expand access to public lands and waterways, support healthy wild game populations, and expand offshore recreational fishing opportunities, according to a White House official.
Who’s attending
Representatives from a wide range of outdoor organizations and companies are expected at the dinner, including Bass Pro Shops, the Cabela Family Foundation, the National Rifle Association, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Yamaha Marine Group, Polaris, Beretta USA, Safari Club International, Primos Hunting, Dallas Safari Club, Outdoor Sportsman Group, Sportsmen’s Alliance, USA Shooting Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, Sportsman Boats, Contender Boats, Taurus Holdings and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, officials from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and representatives from the Commerce Department and NOAA are also expected to attend.
According to a White House official, the outdoor recreation sector generates more than $1.2 trillion annually and supports over 5 million jobs nationwide.
What the orders would do
The secretaries of Interior, Agriculture, War and Commerce would be directed to propose changes to existing policies under the orders.
One target is a set of Biden-era restrictions on traditional lead ammunition and tackle. Under the Biden administration, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service adopted station-specific requirements mandating lead-free ammunition and tackle at several national wildlife refuges.
The fishing-focused order aims to open more of the nation’s coastal waters to recreational anglers while reducing federal red tape and giving fishermen a greater role in managing fisheries. Specific measures under consideration include:
- Moving charter boat operators toward multi-year permits
- Replacing mail-in catch surveys with mobile reporting tools
- Launching recovery programs for depleted stocks such as Atlantic striped bass
- Converting eligible offshore oil and gas platforms into artificial reefs
